Fashion: Spending More On Fashion – When Does It Make Sense?

If you have a love for fashion, then you’ve probably got a wardrobe filled with all kinds of garments and accessories, just like me. And with summer coming soon, it’s probably time to declutter your wardrobe and fill it with newer in-season clothing that makes sense for the warmer weather.

I’ve done recently done a bit of an online shop at Miss Pap, ASOS and New Look, and then went and on a bit of a random, last-minute spree at Selfridges. Oopps.

My recent spree got me thinking: when did I become the type of girl to splash some cash on more luxury, designer labels? Before this recent spree, I remember heading to Whistles and Hobbs for some new Winter attire. I skipped my old Primark ways, and swapped my fast fashion for timeless, high quality cardigans and jumpers from these more prestigious stores.

But then when Summer approaches, I head online to the likes of Miss Pap and ASOS, which are in no means ‘cheap’, but much more affordable.

When is it OK to leave behind your ‘cheaper’ fashion days, and start wearing more expensive items? Or is there even a reason to do it all? Lets explore…

Reasons to pay more for your fashion

First, let’s list a couple of reasons why it could be a good idea to pay more for your clothes.

Designer clothes are usually more durable, and last longer than cheaper clothes. Poorer quality clothes are prone to fading and can become damaged after just a few washes. Underwear can be the worst for this, believer it or not.

Buying from a reputable

lingerie outlet store will guarantee quality, as opposed to buying from an eBay auction or a questionable wholesaler/fast fashion high street store, where the material will usually be polyester.

Expensive clothes often come with a high resale value, especially if you take care of them and know your way around fashion. This is actually rather a niche market, so it does require some knowledge to make use of this point. But re-selling premium/designer clothing isn’t a bad idea, and there are some great websites out there which specialise in the re-selling of designer items only (meaning you’ll get the right shoppers coming to site).

Picking boutique clothing means you can separate yourself from the crowd and wear unique garments that stand out and match your outfit perfectly. I mean – how many times have you bumped into someone at a party and you’re both in the same Primark dress and heels? Oh c’mon – I’ve done it a fair few times, especially a few years back at university.

Pricier clothing usually comes as more comfortable clothing, that will hug your body and feel fantastic. This is due to more expensive materials being used, such as 100% cotton or wool. Again, like mentioned above, it’s polyester which can be irritable.

“Paying more” doesn’t mean shelling out hundreds on a shirt, and you’d be surprised at how drastic the difference is between cheap clothing and mid-range clothing. When I did my Whistles haul, I spent £110 on a jacket and £60 on a denim waistcoat. It’s not ridiculously expensive, but the quality was unbelievable different to that of fast-fashion online sites and some from the High St.

Reasons to go for budget clothing instead

Now, let’s be equal here and explore a few points against paying more for your fashion.

Cheaper, throwaway fashion pieces mean you can refresh your wardrobe more often. This allows you to cycle through different styles and experiment with colours and patterns more often. Once you’re done with it, it can be donated to charity or recycled.

I wouldn’t own as many trend items if it wasn’t for cheaper online clothing retailers, that can let me wear this seasons tasselled faux suede jacket for £20.

Inexpensive clothing is easier to find. You can purchase it in bulk online or you can go on a shopping spree when stores have sales. Plus, there are tons of fast fashion, trend led online retailers out there now. You know the ones: Pretty Little Thing, Missguided, Boohoo, La Sula, Daisy Street, Miss Pap, Missy Empire…

If you’re on a tight budget, budget clothing can make a lot of sense. It will make your wallet happier and you’ll generally have more of your savings left over for more important things such as bills, rent and so on.

Buying cheaper clothes helps you develop your own sense of style and fashion. You can pick your favourite colours, patterns and so on without being affected by the fashion industry’s influence.

As you can see, there are arguments for both sides. What you do is ultimately up to you, but hopefully, this little opinion piece has given you the reasoning you need to either spend more this year on your clothes or reduce your expenses and save your cash instead.

I’m going to continue doing my seasonal updates from cheaper, fast-fashion online retailers, but invest in quality, designer items when it comes to those timeless classics. You know, like coats, jackets, jeans and occasion dresses. The pieces I want to get lots of wear out of, time and time again…